I’m a little biased this week in choosing the book that was my baby for most of the spring and early summer.

The Family Tree Sourcebook, now available for pre-order (and on sale at 34 percent off), is a reference book with all the information you need to trace your roots across the United States:

A summary of genealogy research in every state, with a historical overview, vital records information, tips on other major records to look for and places to begin, and maps showing county boundaries.

Detailed county-level data telling you which county office to contact for court, probate, vital, and other types of records. Here’s an example:

Names, addresses, phone numbers and websites for helpful libraries, archives, and genealogical and historical societies in each state.

Bibliographies listing genealogical and historical books that will help you further your research in each state.

Special sections on the best websites for state-based research, as well as broader-scope, national resources.

The book comes with a free 30-day trial of Family Tree Magazine Plus, our members-only, online archive of expert genealogy articles from past issues of Family Tree Magazine. (The book’s content also is searchable online as part of a Plus membership.)

How does this book compare with online sources like the Ancestry.com wiki (http://www.ancestry.com/wiki/index.php)? I appreciate the effort that goes into references like this, but how do you keep them relevant when the same content is (or seems to be) available online for free?

Andy

Friday, 10 September 2010 10:32:08 (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)

Hi, Andy,

Thanks for asking. The Ancestry.com wiki is a helpful site! I’d like to point out a few things that make the Sourcebook a unique resource with its own advantages:

The information isn’t necessarily the same. The Family Tree Sourcebook updates the information and format from The Family Tree Resource Book for Genealogists, which was compiled from a variety of resources (including phone calls to courthouse clerks).

Family Tree Magazine strives to provide information in a variety of formats to meet readers’ divergent needs and preferences. That includes online, CDs, digital downloads and yes, print. Print allows for an orderly, “guided” presentation of in-depth information, which many people appreciate. We think the arrangement of the book, the expert how-to article for each state, at-a-glance county contact information, and the comprehensive organization listings and bibliographies are among the features that make the Sourcebook a unique and valuable reference.

Because many people also appreciate the immediacy, searchability and brevity of an online presentation of material (and some even want both), we have included the Sourcebook information in our Family Tree Plus membership. As mentioned in the post, this membership includes all the advice about how to research your family history from past issues of Family Tree Magazine—a unique resource you won’t find elsewhere online